Typographical casting machines



Nov. 8, 1955 E. D. OPPENHEIMER, JR 2,723,024

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20, 195-3 ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1955 E. D. OPPENHEIMER, JR 2,723,924

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES Filed April 20, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ll /N VE N TOR 5 im F No 8, 1955 E. D. OPPENHEIMER, JR 2,723,024

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 20, 1955 TL T W A TTORNE Y5 Nov. 8, 1955 E. D. OPPENHEIMERJR 2,

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 20, 1955 fl ,9 W ATTORNEYS Nov. 8, 1955 E. D. OPPENHEIMER, JR 2,723,024

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 20, 1953 wmo n mw m rhN ATTORNEYS EN m w m q United States Patent Patented Nov. 8, 1955 TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINES Edgar D. Oppenheimer, In, New York, N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application April 20, 1953, Serial No. 349,886

22 Claims. '(Cl. 199-51) This invention relates to quadding and centering devices for typographical casting machines, such as those disclosed in the Frolander Patent No. 1,971,400 and the Hilpman Patent No. 2,255,254. In these and other prior patents, the clamping force applied to a composed matrix line by the right or the left hand vise jaw during a quadding operation is substantially twice as great as the clamping force applied thereto by both jaws during a centering operation.

This condition is due to two factual reasons: First, in centering, the resistance presented to a single actuating member for the two vise jaws is doubled at the moment it imparts the clamping force to a composed matrix line positioned between the jaws; and, second, the force thus applied to one jaw counterbalances the force applied to the other (Newtons 3rd law of motion). In other words, i

the clamping pressure ordinarily imparted to a single vise jaw for a quadding operation is equally divided between the two jaws during a centering operation. Consequently, in order to obtain the pressure demanded for a centering operation, the force applied for a quadding operation has been maintained at a maximum, with the result that the stationary jaw (especially the left hand jaw when quadding with the right hand jaw) is oftentimes canted out of position or backed off, causing bleeding of molten type metal at the time of casting.

The present invention is intended to overcome the above and other difiiculties by providing means controlled by the jaw actuating member for equalizing the force applied to either or both line clamping jaws during a quadding or a centering operation. The arrangement of the parts and the precise manner in which they operate to bring about the results desired will best be understood from the detailed description to follow.

in the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely in preferred form and obviously many changes and variations may readily be made therein which still will be comprised within its scope. It should therefore be understoo'd vthat the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the vise frame and adjacent parts of a Linotype machine, showing the present improvements applied thereto and the jaw selecting rod set in a position for regular casting;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section showing, on an enlarged scale, the rack and gear assembly for operating the jaw closing levers, with the jaw selecting rod set in a position for a centering operation;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the jaw selecting rod set in a position to permit a quadding operation with the right hand jaw;

Fig. 4 is a detail view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the jaw selecting rod set in a position to permit a quadding operation with the left hand jaw;

Fig. 5 is a detail top plan view of the rack and gear assembly;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 6-6 'of Fig. 1, showing on an enlarged scale the operating means for the rack and gear assembly;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section similar to Fig. 2 but showing the position of the parts when quadding with the right hand jaw;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the force equalizing mechanism for the vise jaws;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate diagrammatically the means whereby a given major force may be reduced and thereafter equalized for a quadding operation with either vise jaw or a centering operation with both jaws; and

Fig. 12 is a detail vertical section, taken on the line 12--12 of Fig. 1, showing the spring detent for holding the jaw selecting rod in its different adjusted positions.

A line of matrices x and expansible spacebands y (Fig. 1) is composed in the usual manner and transferred into a vertically movable line transporter or first elevator 2 slidably mounted in the vise frame 3. Upon receiving the line, the first elevator immediately descends to position it between a left hand vise jaw 4 and a right hand vise jaw 5 and in front of a slotted mold, which latter then advances from the rear into contact with the line and the two clamping jaws for the slug casting operation, the line prior to the casting operation being aligned with the mold and properly justified when the machine is operating in the regular way. After the slug has been cast, the mold is carried from its horizontal casting position by a three-quarter turn of a mold disk 6, and the first elevator in the meantime is raised to the upper transfer level where the composed line is shifted therefrom for distribution. The first elevator then is lowered and finally comes to rest in its original or line receiving position just before the machine cycle is completed.

The vise jaws 4 and 5 are operable automatically to cooperate with lines of less than full length so that slugs may be cast with blank spaces at either end, as for quadding or at both ends for centering. For this purpose, the two jaws are movable toward and from each other by a vertically movable center control rod 7 which may be connected at its upper end to the respective jaws through the medium of two similar but oppositely disposed bell crank levers 8 and 9 pivoted at 8 and 9 respectively, to the upright side arms of a U-shaped bracket 10 fastened to the vise frame 3. The longer arm of the lever 8 is connected by a link 11 directly to a supporting block 12 for the right hand jaw 5, whereas the longer arm of the lever 9 is connected by a link 13 to a banking block 14 for the left hand jaw 4, the latter being capable of independent adjustment to predetermined positions in relation to the opposing right hand jaw for accommodating composed lines of different lengths when the machine is conditioned for normal or regular operation. The means employed for effecting such adjustments of the left hand jaw is not shown but may be of any suitable construction or similar to that shown and described in U. S. patent to J. H. Hilpman, No. 2,061,872.

In providing for the connection and disconnection of the center control rod 7 with and from the line clamping jaws 4 and 5, said rod, according to the present invention, is provided at its upper end (Figs. 1 and 7) with a gear or pinion 15 which meshes constantly with a pair of vertically movable rack bars 16 and 17 disposed respectively (Fig. 1) at the left and the right hand side of the center rod. Stop pins or banking studs 10 and 10 projecting laterally from the fixed U-shaped bracket 10 beneath the respective rack bars 16 and 17, serve to limit their downward movement and at the same time, through the meshing of the gear 15 with said bars, to limit the downward movement of the center rod 7. The upper portion of the center rod 7 as may be observed (Fig. 8), and the lower o portions of the two rack bars 16 and 17, are rectangular in cross section in order that they may fit snugly together and also be properly guided during their relative movements by the opposing side and end walls of a finished aperture 10 formed in the horizontal portion 10 of the fixed U-shaped bracket 10. As best shown in Fig. l, the rack bar 16 is attached at its upper end by a pin and slot connection 16 to the shorter arm of the bell crank lever 8, while the rack bar 17 is similarly attached at its upper end by a pin and slot connection 1'7 to the shorter arm of the bell crank lever 9.

Selective means are employed to condition the machine for a quadding operation by either vise jaw 4 or S, or for a centering operation by both of said jaws. Such means, in the present instance, includes a composite horizontally disposed rod 18 capable of endwise adjustment in opposite directions and whereby either rack bar 16 or 17 may be raised to the exclusion of the other (by the center rod 7 through the medium of the pinion for quadding, or whereby both of said bars may be raised (in unison with the center rod and said pinion) for centering.

The rod 18 (Fig. l) is slidably mounted in the stationary bracket and extends at the right somewhat beyond the same and through one of the two upright side members 3 of the vise frame 3. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that portion of the rod 18 which is disposed within the bracket 10 includes a plurality of short and relatively long sections 18* and 18 respectively, arranged end to end in abutting relation to one another and engaging corresponding apertures 19 formed transversely in the rectangular portions of the two rack bars 16 and 17 as well as a third aperture 20 similarly formed in the rectangular portion of the center rod 7. As a matter of fact, and for reasons yet to be pointed out, at least two of the longer sections 18 of the composite rod 18 correspond in length exactly to the common width of the rectangular portions of the two rack bars 16 and 17 as well as to the width of the intervening upper portion of the center rod 7; whereas the two shorter sections 18 of said rod preferably are one half the stipulated length of the two longer sections 18. A compression spring 21, seated in the bracket 10 and engaging another and still longer section 18 of the composite rod 18, tends constantly to urge the latter endwise toward the right, the movement of the rod in this direction (Figs. 1 and 2) being limited by the engagement of a collar a, formed on this longer section of the rod 18, with a shoulder 10 of the U-shaped bracket 10. A spring detent 22 (Figs. 8 and 12), mounted in the upright side member 3 of the vise frame and arranged to engage one or another of a row of spaced apart recesses 18 formed in said rod, serves to locate it in its different adjusted positions.

The different adjustments of the sectional horizontal rod 18 are effected as desired by the operation of a conveniently located hand lever 23 (Fig. 8) which projects forwardly from the lower side of an angular bracket member 24 of the vise frame 3 and is attached thereto by a pivot screw 23*. As shown best in Figs. 1 and 8, the hand lever 23 is disposed immediately above the extended end portion of the sectional rod 18 and, to establish an operative connection therewith, the hand lever is provided with a depending stud or pin 23 arranged to constantly engage an upstanding bifurcated portion 18 of said rod. The endwise adjusted position of the rod 18 is determined by an appropriately marked scale plate 25 fastened to the front face of the bracket member 24 and is read in conjunction with a pointer 18 attached to the contiguous end of the sectional rod.

Thus, and according to the improved arrangement so far as described: Assuming, first, that the machine has been set for regular casting by operation of the hand lever 23 and the pointer 18 located in registry with the indicating mark Reg. on the scale plate 25, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. At such times. the composite rod 18,

through its connection with the hand lever 23 and under the influence of the compression spring 21, will have been located endwise by the detent 22 in the position shown in said figures. As a result, both rack bars 16 and 17 as well as the center rod 7 will be locked against upward movement by the longer sections 18 of the composite rod 18.

If new a centering operation should be required, the pointer 18 is shifted by means of the hand lever 23 into registry with the corresponding indicating mark C on the scale plate 25 and, as a result, the composite rod 18 through its connection with the hand lever will be moved endwise in opposition to the compression spring 21 to the position shown in Fig. 2, where it is sustained against accidental displacement by the detent 22. At this time, as may be observed, the two longer abutting rod sections 18* are adapted to lock the two rack bars 16 and 17 to the rectangular upper portion of the center rod 7, while the two shorter rod sections 18 will be moved into positions within the rack bars clear of the opposing end walls of the aperture 10 of the fixed bracket 11 during the vertical movements of said bars. Therefore and since the left hand jaw 4 as well as the right hand jaw 5 must be employed to perform a centering operation, both rack bars 16 and 17 will be raised simultaneously by the center rod 7 as the latter is forced upwardly during a machine cycle. Then, and through the ball crank levers 8 and 9 and the intermediate link connections with the respective vise jaws 4 and 5, the rack bars 16 and 17 will move the jaws equal distances toward each other in performing the centering operation.

When it is desired to condition the machine for quadding left, i. e., by operating the right hand jaw 5, it merely is necessary to shift the pointer 18 by means of the hand lever 23 into registry with the proper indicating mark L on the scale plate 25. By this operation, the composite or sectional rod 18 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 where it again is yieldingly sustained by the engagement of the detent 22 with one of the recesses 18 In such instances, as may be noted, the two abutting longer rod sections 18 will be accommodated in the corresponding apertures 19 and 20 in the rack bar 16 and the center rod 7, respectively, while the other rack bar 17 will be locked against upward movement by the contiguous end of the longest or main section 18 of the composite rod. Consequently, as force is applied to drive the center rod 18 upwardly, the pinion or gear 15 will be rotated in a clockwise direction through its engagement with the teeth on the now relatively fixed rack bar 17 and raise the other rack bar 16 under a 1 to 2 leverage as shown in Fig. 7. This reduced force then is imparted to the bell crank lever 8 and thence by the link 11 to the right hand jaw 5 for a quadding operation thereby.

To condition the machine for quadding right by operation of the left hand jaw 4, the hand lever 23 is moved in the proper direction to shift the pointer 13 into registry with the indicating mark R on the scale plate 25 and at the same time permit the compression spring 21 to move the composite rod to the position shown in Fig. 4. Here, as may be noted, while the center rod 7 as well as the rack bar 17 are now free to be moved upwardly, the other rack bar 1.6 is locked against upward movement by the longer rod section 18, which is directly opposed to the compression spring 21. Therefore, as the upward force is applied to the center rod during a machine cycle of operation, the pinion or gear 15 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and raise the rack bar 17 under the same l to 2 leverage as tha: applied to the rack bar 16 in the manner above described. This reduced force then is imparted through the be crank lever 9 and the connecting link 13 to the banking block 14 for the left hand jaw 4 in order that the latter may perform a quadding operation toward the opposing right hand jaw 5.

After a quadding or a centering operation, the line cIampi'ng jaws 4 and 5 are restored to their original. or normal positions automatically by the operation of an auxiliary bell crank lever 21; as the first elevator 2 is raised after the slug casting operation. The bell crank lever 26 (Figs. 1 and 8) is pivoted at 26 on the U-shaped bracket and presents a horizontally disposed arm 27 as well as a vertically disposed arm 28, the former arm being connected at its free end by a pin and slot connection- 27 to the center rod 7, and the latter rod being provided with an anti-friction roller 28 which is adapted, in an elevated position of the center rod, to be located in the path of a vertical wedge-shaped member 29 secured to the lower portion of the first elevator slide 2 Accordingly, and if for example the center rod 7 and pinion should happen to be raised a distance x (Fig. 7) and the rack bar 16 associated therewith a distance 2x for a quaddi'ng left operation, the bell crank lever 26 will be rocked idly in one direction through its pin and slot connection with the center rod so as to locate the antifri'ction roller 28 (Fig. 1) in engaging relation to the beveled surface of the wedge-shaped member 23. Then, as the first elevator 2 rises after the casting operation, the wedge-shaped member 29 will engage the roller 28 and rock the lever 26 in the opposite direction. As a result, the center rod 7 is moved downwardly and the pinion 15, through its engagement with the now relatively fixed rack bar 17, is rotated counter-clockwise to restore the raised rack bar 16 to its normal position against the banking stud 10 It should now be clear that the force imparted by the center rod 7 during its upward movement to either of the two line clamping jaws 4 and 5 for a quadding operation, or to both jaws for a centering operation, is equalized or kept uniform. However, and to illustrate more clearly the precise manner in which these results are obtained, reference is directed to the diagrammatic views of Figs. 9, l0 and 11. Here, the upward force applied to the center rod 7 during each machine cycle of operation is indicated at 160 lbs. Therefore, in quadding with, say, the right hand jaw 5 (Fig. 9), the vertically disposed rack bar 16, to the exclusion of the rack bar 17, will be raised under a reduced force of 80 lbs. due to the 1 to 2 leverage of the pinion 15. Since the bell crank lever 8 has a 1 to 4 leverage, the force transmitted through the connecting link 13 to the jaw 5 will be further reduced to lbs. In like manner, a reduced force of 20 lbs, will be imparted to the left hand jaw 4 when quadding right, as indicated. in Fig. 10, the rack bar 17 (to the exclusion of its companion 16) being raised to actuate the other bell crank r lever 9.

For centering, as indicated in Fig. 11, both rack bars 16 and 17 are caused to rise simultaneously with the center rod 7 and the l to 2 leverage of the pinion 15 is therefore eliminated. However, the resultant pressure applied to a composed matrix line by the two clamping jaws '4 and 5 will still be the desired 20 lbs., since each of the two rack bars 16 and 17 will be caused to exert an upward force of 80 lbs., which is reduced to 20 lbs. by the bell crank levers 8 and 9, and since the 20 lb. force applied to each clamping jaw is counterbalanced by the same force applied to the other jaw. The'justification of composed lines in standard machines takes place during each machine cycle immediately after the, line has been positioned between the clamping jawsbut prior to the casting operation. Hence, two members of the justifying mechanism, in performing their normal functions, may be used advantageously to effect the upward movement of the center rod 7. Part of this mechanism is shown in Figs. 1 and 8 and includes, generally, a horizontal spaceband thrust bar supported at its opposite ends by two vertical rods 31 and 32 slidably mounted in the vise frame 3; a spring-actuated fore-andportion presenting two arms 34 and 35; a vertically dis posed spring-actuated wedge member 36 loosely connected at its lower end to the arm 34' of the lever 33 and guided at its upper end in a bracket 37' on the vise frame so as to sustain the banking block 14 for the left hand jaw against the force of justification; another (spring-actuated) fore-and-aft lever 38 also controlled from a cam on the main drive shaft and connected through a fixture 32 to the vertical slide rod 32; and an upwardly inclined strut 33 pivoted to the fixture 32 and attached to the thrust bar 30 at a point immediately adjacent the upper end of the slide rod 31. The slide rods 31 and 32 are operated twice during each machine cycle for so-called first justification and second justification. During first justification, and for reasons well known, the rods 31 and 32 are actuated one slightly in advance of the other so as to raise the thrust bar 3t) in a canted position but, during second justification, they are actuated in unison to raise the thrust bar in a horizontal position.-

According to the present improvements (Figs. 1 and 8), the center rod 7 near its lower end has fixed thereto a member 39 and, during a quadding or a centering operation, its upward movement is effected by the operation of the fore-and-aft justification levers 33 and 38 through the medium of a pair of gravity pawls 40 and 41 arranged to engage corresponding vertical rows of ratchet teeth 3% and 39 formed on opposite side faces of the member 39. The pawl 40 is pivotally attached to a sleeve 31 splined to the slide rod 31, while the pawl 41 is pivotally attached to the fixture 32 of the other vertical slide rod 32'. Adjustable stop pins 3 and 3, rising from one of the horizontal portions 3 of the vise frame 3 and normally engaging respectively the lower edges of the pawls 40- and 41, are adapted as the vertical slide rods 31 and 32 are restored to their normal lower positions to disengage the pawls from the teeth of the member 39' and sustain them in their inactive positions, as shown in Fig. l.

The operation of the center rod 7 will now be clear: With a line of matrices in position for a quadding or centering operation, the cam-controlled spring-actuated justification levers 33 and 38 in their first upward movement will lift. the two rods 31 and 32 and, through the engagement of the pawls 40 and 41 with the ratchet teeth 39 and 39 raise the center rod 7 to effect the closing of the jaw or jaws against the composed line. The force applied by the two justification lever springs to the center rod will of course vary according to the extent of the jaw closing movement, being greater for long lines and lesser for short lines. However, after this first (jaw closing) move ment of the center rod, the pawls 40 and 41 are restored to their original or starting position, the center rod remaining in its upward or operated position due to the balance of the system of racks and levers and the weight of the jaws. Now, when the rods 31 and 32 are raised the second time, the full force of the two justification lever springs is applied to the center rod, producing a line squeeze with no loss of spring tension. In this way, a constant force (20 lbs. in the example given) is applied to the jaws, whether quadding or centering, and this regardless of the length of the composed line. It may be noted, however, that even if the force applied to the center rod did vary, the pressure applied to a line of any given length would be the same, due to the equalizing influence of the before described rack and pinion connections between the center rod and the jaws.

To prevent the upward movement of the center rod 7 when the machine is conditioned for regular operation, a pair of thin vertically disposed bafiie plates 42 and 43 are interposed between the gravity pawls 40 and 41 and the opposed rows of ratchet teeth 39" and 39*, respectively. At or near their upper ends, the bafiie plates 42 and 43 are interconnected by a horizontal portion 44, and at their lower ends they are hingedly attached, throughthe medium of integral forwardly projecting arms 42 and'42 (Fig. 8)

to corresponding lugs 3 of the vise frame 3 so that they may be swung to and from their active position. Such movement of the plates 42 and 43 is controlled by the endwise adjustment of a second horizontal rod 45 (Figs. 1 and 8) which is secured at one end to an arm 46 depending from the composite rod 18 (already described), and formed at its other or free end with an offset cam-like member 47 disposed in operative relation to an antifriction roller 48 carried by the interconnecting portion 44. A pair of pull springs 49, attached to the respective bafiie plates 42 and 43 and anchored to pins 10 projecting downwardly from the fixed bracket 10 (Fig. I), tend constantly to urge said plates rearwardly and maintain them in their inactive position. As the composite rod 18 is moved by means of the hand lever 23 to set the pointer l8 in its rightmost adjusted position for regular machine operation, the offset cam-like member 47 of the rod 45 will be carried into engagement with the antifriction roller 48 and thus move the baffle plates 42 and 43 as a unit, against the tension of the pull springs 49, into their active position with the plate 42 located between the pawl 40 and the row of ratchet teeth 39 and with the plate 43 located between the pawl 41 and the row of ratchet teeth 3 9 (see Fig. 8). Consequently, the center rod 7 and parts controlled thereby will remain undisturbed as the vertical slide rods 31 and 32 are caused to rise during a machine cycle in performing their normal function of line justification by operation of the spaceband thrust bar 30. However, when the machine is conditioned for quadding or centering by operation of the hand lever 23, the horizontal rod 45 will be shifted endwise with the rod 18 and carry the cam-like member 47 out of engagement with the antifriction roller 48, allowing the baffle plates 42 and 43 to be pulled rearwardly out of the way of the pawls 40 and 41.

What is claimed is:

1. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws, one movable independently toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison toward each other for centering, and mechanism to effect such quadding or centering movement of the jaws, said mechanism including means for equalizing the line clamping force applied to one jaw in quadding or to both jaws in centering.

2. A combination, according to claim 1, including means for conditioning the machine for a quadding or a centering operation.

3. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism also includes a power operated member operating under a constant force regardless of the length of the composed line being quadded or centered.

4. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws each movable independently toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison toward each other for centering, a pair of slide bars connected to the right and the left hand jaws, respectively, and unitary power means for operating either slide bar to the exclusion of the other to effect a quadding operation or both bars simultaneously to effect a centering operation, said unitary power means including a center rod operable under a given force and provided with a rotatable pinion, said pinion being in constant mesh at opposite sides with rack teeth formed on the two slide bars.

5. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws each movable independently toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison toward each other for centering, a vertically movable power operated center rod, a rotatable pinion carried thereby, a pair of slidable rack bars arranged adjacent to the center rod in constant mesh with said pinion and connected to the right and left hand jaws, respectively, and conditioning means capable of adjustment to permit the elevation of either rack bar alone by the center rod and pinion during their upward movement in effecting a quadding operation or the elevation of both rack bars simultaneously in eifecting a centering operation.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the conditioning means includes a horizontal composite slide rod comprising a series of short and long sections of predetermined length and capable of endwise adjustment in relation to the rack bars and center rod, and means for effecting such adjustments of the composite rod to select a quadding or centering operation.

7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein the composite rod in its normal endwise positon serves to lock both rack bars as well as the center rod against upward movement to condition the machine for regular casting.

8. A combination according to claim 5, including means operable automatically during a machine cycle to restore the center rod and either or both rack bars to their respective normal positions after the casting operation.

9. In a slug casting machine equipped with a vertically movable line transporter to carry a composed line to and from casting position, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws each movable independently toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison toward each other for centering, a vertically movable power operated center rod, a rotatable pinion carried thereby, a pair of rack bars arranged adjacent to the center rod in constant mesh with said pinion and connected to the right and the left hand jaws, respectively, conditioning means capable of adjustment to permit the elevation of either rack bar alone by the center rod and pionion during their upward movement in effecting a quadding operation, or the elevation of both rack bars simultaneously in effecting a centering operation, and means connected to the center rod and operable during the upward movement of the transporter for restoring said rod and also the elevated rack bar or bars to their respective normal positions.

10. A combination acording to claim 9, wherein the means for restoring the center rod and rack bars to their normal position include a lever connected at one end to the center rod and having its other end disposed in operative relation to an upright wedge-shaped member carried by the line transporter.

ll. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws each movable independently toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison toward each other for centering, a vertically movable power operated center rod, a rotatable pinion carried thereby, a pair of slidable rack bars arranged adjacent to the center rod in constant mesh with said pinion and connected to the right and left hand jaws, respectively, and conditioning means including a horizontal composite slide rod comprising a series of short and long sections and capable of endwise adjustment in relation to the center rod and rack bars, a hand lever operable to effect such adjustments of the composite rod in selecting a quadding or centering operation, and means for locating said rod in its ditferent adjusted positions.

12. A combination according to claim 11, including a stationary scale plate and a pointer associated therewith for indicating the different adjusted positions of the composite rod.

13. A combination according to claim 12, wherein the pointer associated with the scale plate is attached to one end of the composite rod and including a compression spring opposed to the other end of said rod to insure the mutual contact of its various sections during the movement of the rod to its different adjusted positions.

14-. A combination according to claim 5, including a fore-and-aft justification lever operable twice during a machine cycle, and. means controlled by said lever to effect the upward movement of the center rod.

15. In a slug casting machine equipped with line justifying mechanism, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws each movable independently toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison toward each other for centering, a vertically movable power operated center rod, a rotatable pinion attached to the upper end of said rod, a pair of vertically movable rack bars arranged adjacent to the center rod in constant mesh with the pinion and connected to the right and left hand jaws, respectively, a ratchet member attached to the center rod near its lower end, and a pawl operated by the justifying mechanism and disposed in engaging relation to the ratchet member for etfecting the upward movement of the center rod.

16. A combination according to claim 15, wherein the justification mechanism includes two fore-and-aft springactuated levers and a pair of vertically disposed slide rods movable upwardly and downwardly by said levers, and wherein both of said slide rods carry pawls to cooperate with the ratchet memberof the center rod.

17. A combination according to claim 15, including means operable to condition the machine for quadding or centering as well as for regular casting, and means controlled by the conditioning means to prevent the engagement of the pawl with the ratchet member during the operation of the justifying mechanism when the machine is conditioned for regular casting.

18. A combination, acording to claim 17, wherein the means which prevent the engagement of the pawl with the ratchet member includes a spring-controlled bafiie plate movable into a position between the pawl and the ratchet member.

19. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws, one movable toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison toward each other for centering, a power operated member and means for connecting said member to one jaw alone for quadding or to both jaws for centering, said connecting means including devices to equalize the line clamping force exerted by the power operated member under both conditions.

20. A combination according to claim 19, including means for operating the power operated member under a constant force regardless of the length of the line being quadded or centered.

21. A combination according to claim 19, including a spring-actuated justification lever for operating the power operated member, said lever being operated twice during each machine cycle, and pawl and ratchet devices through which the justification lever acts upon the power operated member during each operation of said lever.

22. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a pair of line clamping jaws, one movable toward the other for quadding and both movable in unison toward each other for centering, a vertically movable power operated control rod for effecting such quadding or centering movement of the jaws, a rotatable pinion carried by the rod, a pair of slidable rack bars arranged at opposite sides of the rod and in constant mesh with the pinion, one rack bar being connected to one jaw and the other to the opposed jaw, means for locking one of the rack bars against movement while leaving the other one free for movement by the pinion in the upward movement of the control rod for quadding, and means for coupling both rack bars to the control rod and permitting them to move as a unit therewith for centering.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,964,695 Sperry June 26, 1934 2,372,407 Trejo et a1. Mar. 27, 1945 2,392,558 Souche Jan. 8, 1946 

